China's exporters have been hurt by weakening global demand amid Europe's debt crisis and U.S. economic troubles. Imports have been supported by relatively strong Chinese economic growth but that also is easing.

Combined data for January and February showed export growth fell to 6.9 percent over the same two-month period last year, well below December's 13.4 percent. Imports for the two-month period rose 7.7 percent, down from December's 11.8 percent.